Investigating the Realization of the Speech Acts of Complimenting and Complaining The Case of English Language Master Students at Larbi Tebessi University, Tebessa, and a Group of English Native Speakers

Abstract

This pragmatic study aims to examine complimenting and complaining speech acts across Algerian and British cultures. EFL learners must accomplish both linguistic competence and pragmatic competence to build abilities based on both language accuracy and appropriateness, for the sake of not falling in a cross-cultural pragmatic trap. The current study investigates whether there are any differences or similarities between Algerian non-native English Speakers’ answers (NNESs) and British native English speakers’ answers (NESs), concerning the realization of both complimenting and complaining speech acts. The subjects of this study are forty two (42) Algerian NNESs at the Departement of English at LaarbiTebessi University, in addition to seven (07) BritishNESs. Additionally, we rely on a mixed method triangulation design to end up with an overall interpretation. The data collecting tool is a discourse completion task (DCT) which is administered during the academic year 2021-2022. Moreover, a set of various models have been followed in order to analyze the provided answers (Manes and Wolfson, 1981; Herbert, 1986-1990; Trosborg 1995; Laforest 2002; Olshtain and Weinbach 1987). The analysis of the obtained data revealed more similarities than differences between non-native participants and native ones in the realization of both speech acts. Therefore, it is recommended to reinforce EFL learners’ awareness about the role of culture in interpreting speech acts in general and complimenting and complaining in particular.